Host Chad Peace and co-host Cara McCormick dive into the left’s political freak-out over Trump potentially rescheduling cannabis — and what it exposes about a system that weaponizes even 80/20 issues. With guest Adam Swart of Crowds on Demand, they go from weed reform to immigration to gerrymandering asking: Can independents help drag politics back to common sense solutions?

Listen to more episodes and join the conversation at IVN.us and olasmedia.com

Chapters:
00:00:00 – This Week’s Viral IVN Stories
00:01:20 – Trump and the Reclassification Shockwave
00:03:07 – When Politics Becomes Credit-Claiming
00:05:06 – Immigration, Extremes, and the Reality Most Americans Agree On
00:08:11 – Why Our Election System Fuels Division
00:10:15 – The Gerrymandering Bill Everyone Supported
00:13:30 – Why Good Ideas Don’t Win in Today’s Politics
00:15:39 – Trust, Representation, and What Voters Actually Want
00:21:33 – Meet Adam Swart: Inside the Business of Paid Protests
00:30:11 – Protest, Legitimacy, and Who Gets a Voice
00:40:58 – Takeaways and What’s Coming Next

Host Chad Peace and co-host Cara McCormick dive into the left&rsquo;s political freak-out over Trump potentially rescheduling cannabis &mdash; and what it exposes about a system that weaponizes even 80/20 issues. With guest Adam Swart of Crowds on Demand, they go from weed reform to immigration to gerrymandering asking: Can independents help drag politics back to common sense solutions?
Listen to more episodes and join the conversation at <a href="IVN.US">IVN.us</a> and <a href="olasmedia.com">olasmedia.com</a>
Chapters: 00:00:00 &ndash; This Week&rsquo;s Viral IVN Stories 00:01:20 &ndash; Trump and the Reclassification Shockwave 00:03:07 &ndash; When Politics Becomes Credit-Claiming 00:05:06 &ndash; Immigration, Extremes, and the Reality Most Americans Agree On 00:08:11 &ndash; Why Our Election System Fuels Division 00:10:15 &ndash; The Gerrymandering Bill Everyone Supported 00:13:30 &ndash; Why Good Ideas Don&rsquo;t Win in Today&rsquo;s Politics 00:15:39 &ndash; Trust, Representation, and What Voters Actually Want 00:21:33 &ndash; Meet Adam Swart: Inside the Business of Paid Protests 00:30:11 &ndash; Protest, Legitimacy, and Who Gets a Voice 00:40:58 &ndash; Takeaways and What&rsquo;s Coming Next

Tired of being told what to think by partisan gatekeepers? So are we.
The Independent Voter Podcast brings you conversations that challenge the two-party echo chamber and reject the false binaries dominating today’s political narratives. We focus on two things:
 (1) Election reforms that increase real competition and voter choice, and
 (2) Policy issues that defy the black-and-white frameworks set by national party agendas.

We’ve been called everything: liberals, undercover Republicans, progressives, socialists, libertarians—even anarchists. And depending on the article, they’re all true.
We are open to any voice that follows our simple etiquette. If you believe political independence is a mindset, not a middle ground, you’re in the right place.
This the Independent Voter Podcast..

Tired of being told what to think by partisan gatekeepers? So are we. The Independent Voter Podcast brings you conversations that challenge the two-party echo chamber and reject the false binaries dominating today&rsquo;s political narratives. We focus on two things: &nbsp;(1)&nbsp;Election reforms that increase real competition and voter choice, and &nbsp;(2)&nbsp;Policy issues that defy the black-and-white frameworks set by national party agendas.
We&rsquo;ve been called everything: liberals, undercover Republicans, progressives, socialists, libertarians&mdash;even anarchists. And depending on the article, they&rsquo;re all true. We are open to any voice that follows our simple etiquette. If you believe political independence is a mindset, not a middle ground, you&rsquo;re in the right place. This the Independent Voter Podcast..

Independent Voter Podcast

Tired of being told what to think by partisan gatekeepers? So are we.
The Independent Voter Podcast brings you conversations that challenge the two-party echo chamber and reject the false binaries dominating today’s political narratives. We focus on two things:
 (1) Election reforms that increase real competition and voter choice, and
 (2) Policy issues that defy the black-and-white frameworks set by national party agendas.

We’ve been called everything: liberals, undercover Republicans, progressives, socialists, libertarians—even anarchists. And depending on the article, they’re all true.
We are open to any voice that follows our simple etiquette. If you believe political independence is a mindset, not a middle ground, you’re in the right place.
This the Independent Voter Podcast.

Tired of being told what to think by partisan gatekeepers? So are we. The Independent Voter Podcast brings you conversations that challenge the two-party echo chamber and reject the false binaries dominating today&rsquo;s political narratives. We focus on two things: &nbsp;(1)&nbsp;Election reforms that increase real competition and voter choice, and &nbsp;(2)&nbsp;Policy issues that defy the black-and-white frameworks set by national party agendas.
We&rsquo;ve been called everything: liberals, undercover Republicans, progressives, socialists, libertarians&mdash;even anarchists. And depending on the article, they&rsquo;re all true. We are open to any voice that follows our simple etiquette. If you believe political independence is a mindset, not a middle ground, you&rsquo;re in the right place. This the Independent Voter Podcast.

Trump, Cannabis & the Progressive Left’s Freakout Over the Marijuana Issue

Prop 50 is redrawing California’s political battlefield, sparking new fears of gerrymandering, backroom mapmaking, and voters losing their voice. We cut through the spin to explain what’s really changing, who benefits, and what it could mean for competitive elections, election reform, and independent voters. Plus, Independent CA-40 candidate Nina Linh joins us to spell out how Prop 50’s map shifts are already reshaping her district - and her race.

Listen to more episodes and join the conversation at IVN.us 

Chapters:

00:00:00 – When Voters Decide and Politicians Push Back

00:01:13 – Missouri’s Gerrymandering Fight and Citizen Power

00:03:20 – The Games States Play to Block Reform

00:06:12 – Maine’s Ranked Choice Battle: A Warning Story

00:09:21 – Why Both Parties Fear Competition

00:11:16 – Inside the Largest Independent Voter Survey Ever

00:12:56 – Cannabis, Fox News, and the Regulation Irony

00:16:26 – Meet Nina Linh: From Democrat to Independent Candidate

00:21:43 – Affordability, Trust, and Why Voters Are Exhausted

00:27:48 – Gerrymandering, Voter ID, and What Comes Next

 

Prop 50 is redrawing California&rsquo;s political battlefield, sparking new fears of gerrymandering, backroom mapmaking, and voters losing their voice. We cut through the spin to explain what&rsquo;s really changing, who benefits, and what it could mean for competitive elections, election reform, and independent voters. Plus, Independent CA-40 candidate Nina Linh joins us to spell out how Prop 50&rsquo;s map shifts are already reshaping her district - and her race.
Listen to more episodes and join the conversation at <a href="http://ivn.us">IVN.us</a>&nbsp;
Chapters:
00:00:00 &ndash; When Voters Decide and Politicians Push Back
00:01:13 &ndash; Missouri&rsquo;s Gerrymandering Fight and Citizen Power
00:03:20 &ndash; The Games States Play to Block Reform
00:06:12 &ndash; Maine&rsquo;s Ranked Choice Battle: A Warning Story
00:09:21 &ndash; Why Both Parties Fear Competition
00:11:16 &ndash; Inside the Largest Independent Voter Survey Ever
00:12:56 &ndash; Cannabis, Fox News, and the Regulation Irony
00:16:26 &ndash; Meet Nina Linh: From Democrat to Independent Candidate
00:21:43 &ndash; Affordability, Trust, and Why Voters Are Exhausted
00:27:48 &ndash; Gerrymandering, Voter ID, and What Comes Next
&nbsp;

How Gavin Newsom’s Prop 50 is Reshaping California - For Better or For Worse

Pro-democracy activists don’t just need to win reforms at the ballot box; they have to stay in the battle to keep their initiatives from being torn apart the morning after. On this week’s Independent Voter Podcast, Chad Peace and Cara McCormick lament the quiet persistence of partisan political sabotage: the delays, rewrites, and procedural tricks that greet any changes to the status quo, even when voters overwhelmingly approve.

For anyone wondering why popular reforms like RCV and Open Primaries are so hard to pass and protect, this episode offers at least one answer: power never yields without sustained resistance, so reformers survive by comparing notes, learning from one another, and sticking together.

Listen to more episodes and join the conversation at IVN.us and olasmedia.com

Chapters:

00:00:00 – Kicking Off: What Journalists Keep Missing

00:00:32 – Snowstorms, San Diego Dreams & Reform Roots

00:03:40 – The Reform Playbook Only Insiders Know

00:06:13 – D.C.’s Top-Five Win… and the Political Bait-and-Switch

00:10:24 – Why Every Reform Fight Starts to Look the Same

00:11:06 – Inside D.C.’s Battle to Delay Ranked Choice Voting

00:14:23 – Power Players Will Always Use Every Tool They Can

00:17:14 – Exposing the Firms Profiting Off Disabled Veterans

00:22:11 – Who Actually Helps Veterans — and Who Pretends To

00:24:17 – Holidays, Kids, and a Warm Wrap to the Episod

Pro-democracy activists don&rsquo;t just need to win reforms at the ballot box; they have to stay in the battle to keep their initiatives from being torn apart the morning after. On this week&rsquo;s Independent Voter Podcast, Chad Peace and Cara McCormick lament the quiet persistence of partisan political sabotage: the delays, rewrites, and procedural tricks that greet any changes to the status quo, even when voters overwhelmingly approve.
For anyone wondering why popular reforms like RCV and Open Primaries are so hard to pass and protect, this episode offers at least one answer: power never yields without sustained resistance, so reformers survive by comparing notes, learning from one another, and sticking together.
Listen to more episodes and join the conversation at<a href="http://ivn.us"> IVN.us</a> and<a href="http://olasmedia.com"> olasmedia.com</a>
Chapters:
00:00:00 &ndash; Kicking Off: What Journalists Keep Missing
00:00:32 &ndash; Snowstorms, San Diego Dreams &amp; Reform Roots
00:03:40 &ndash; The Reform Playbook Only Insiders Know
00:06:13 &ndash; D.C.&rsquo;s Top-Five Win&hellip; and the Political Bait-and-Switch
00:10:24 &ndash; Why Every Reform Fight Starts to Look the Same
00:11:06 &ndash; Inside D.C.&rsquo;s Battle to Delay Ranked Choice Voting
00:14:23 &ndash; Power Players Will Always Use Every Tool They Can
00:17:14 &ndash; Exposing the Firms Profiting Off Disabled Veterans
00:22:11 &ndash; Who Actually Helps Veterans &mdash; and Who Pretends To
00:24:17 &ndash; Holidays, Kids, and a Warm Wrap to the Episod

The Games Politicians Play After Voters Pass Election Reforms

In this episode of the Independent Voter Podcast, Chad and Cara dive into the exploding world of political prediction markets with special guest Chris Gerlacher of Prediction News—unpacking how platforms like Kalshi and crypto-based markets are reshaping how insiders gauge races from California governor to New York City mayor. Chad and Cara also highlight Shawn Griffiths’ latest election reform roundup at ivn.us, covering new signature drives in Oregon, Nevada, and Oklahoma to end taxpayer-funded closed primaries and expand rights for independent voters, as well as the gritty reality of signature gathering and ballot access. Plus, Cara breaks down a Politico gerrymandering poll that ignores independent voters and shares how unlikely allies—from Democrats to MAGA Republicans—can find common ground on fixing the system, even in a hyper-polarized era.

Listen to more episodes and join the conversation at IVN.us and olasmedia.com

00:00:00 - Welcome Back & IVP Updates

00:01:29 - Introducing Chris Gerlacher & Prediction Markets

00:03:34 - How Prediction Markets Outperform Polls

00:04:14 - California Governor Odds: Swalwell, Porter, Steyer

00:06:21 - How Political Trading Works

00:09:32 - Gambling Concerns, Safeguards & Forecasting Value

00:13:27 - When Candidates Bet on Themselves

00:19:19 - Independent Voter Growth & State Reform Movements

00:32:14 - Signature Gathering, Costs & Citizen Power

00:43:18 - Cross-Ideology Dialogue & Closing Reflections

 

In this episode of the Independent Voter Podcast, Chad and Cara dive into the exploding world of political prediction markets with special guest Chris Gerlacher of Prediction News&mdash;unpacking how platforms like Kalshi and crypto-based markets are reshaping how insiders gauge races from California governor to New York City mayor. Chad and Cara also highlight Shawn Griffiths&rsquo; latest election reform roundup at ivn.us, covering new signature drives in Oregon, Nevada, and Oklahoma to end taxpayer-funded closed primaries and expand rights for independent voters, as well as the gritty reality of signature gathering and ballot access. Plus, Cara breaks down a Politico gerrymandering poll that ignores independent voters and shares how unlikely allies&mdash;from Democrats to MAGA Republicans&mdash;can find common ground on fixing the system, even in a hyper-polarized era.
Listen to more episodes and join the conversation at <a href="http://ivn.us">IVN.us</a> and <a href="http://olasmedia.com">olasmedia.com</a>
00:00:00 - Welcome Back &amp; IVP Updates
00:01:29 - Introducing Chris Gerlacher &amp; Prediction Markets
00:03:34 - How Prediction Markets Outperform Polls
00:04:14 - California Governor Odds: Swalwell, Porter, Steyer
00:06:21 - How Political Trading Works
00:09:32 - Gambling Concerns, Safeguards &amp; Forecasting Value
00:13:27 - When Candidates Bet on Themselves
00:19:19 - Independent Voter Growth &amp; State Reform Movements
00:32:14 - Signature Gathering, Costs &amp; Citizen Power
00:43:18 - Cross-Ideology Dialogue &amp; Closing Reflections
&nbsp;

Trump, Cannabis & the Progressive Left’s Freakout Over the Marijuana Issue

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